Man uses car to drive awareness of cancer

March 14, 2013

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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Tustin resident Cory Holmes poses in his 2006 Infiniti G35 Coupe which he has decked out in pink in honor of the symbolic pink ribbon representative of breast cancer awareness and his mother, a breast cancer survivor. STEPHANIE WELDY, FOR THE REGISTER

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Tustin resident Cory Holmes poses in his 2006 Infiniti G35 Coupe which he has decked out in pink in honor of the symbolic pink ribbon representative of breast cancer awareness and his mother, a breast cancer survivor. STEPHANIE WELDY, FOR THE REGISTER

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Tustin resident Cory Holmes poses in his 2006 Infiniti G35 Coupe which he has decked out in pink in honor of the symbolic pink ribbon representative of breast cancer awareness and his mother, a breast cancer survivor. STEPHANIE WELDY, FOR THE REGISTER

Tustin resident Cory Holmes poses in his 2006 Infiniti G35 Coupe which he has decked out in pink in honor of the symbolic pink ribbon representative of breast cancer awareness and his mother, a breast cancer survivor.STEPHANIE WELDY, FOR THE REGISTER

Six years ago, Air Force Cadet Cory Holmes – stationed thousands of miles from home in Ramstein, Germany – received what he thought was a routine phone call from his family.

But instead of getting updated on family life back in Orange County, Holmes was shocked to learn that his mother, Cindy Holmes, 52, had been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Two years, many tears and a double mastectomy later, Holmes' mother can now call herself a survivor; but Holmes, 26, and his family still fight to raise breast cancer awareness.

To show his support for breast cancer awareness and its signature pink ribbon, Holmes of Tustin regularly wears pink shirts to the gym and to Xerox, where he works as an IT security analyst.

Holmes, who has a pink breast cancer ribbon inked on his right forearm, is now decking out his black 2006 Infiniti G35 Coupe in pink.

The rims are painted black and pink, with pink ribbons in the center. A decal stretches across the windshield that reads: "My mom is a survivor." The interior gauges are now pink, with pink ribbons adorning the gauge face. And the back window reads: "Real men wear pink."

Holmes has pumped $5,000 into customizing his car into a breast cancer awareness-raising stallion.

"I want to raise awareness because of my mom and her best friend, and I've known more people who have been diagnosed," Holmes said. "I want more people to be aware of it and to go to the races and to be talking about it. I want them donating so we can get a cure for it."

Holmes' vehicle is not easy to miss with its pink and black headlights, pink low-beam headlights and FT4CUR license plate. He regularly receives attention from passersby. People often wave, give a thumbs-up his way, and congratulate him and his family for their victory over cancer.

From the time his mother was diagnosed, Holmes constantly thought of decking out his car in support of the cause. It was not until he got into a car accident in 2012 that he decided to bring his plan to life.

With the money he received to fix his vehicle, Holmes invested in a pink ribbon theme.

Though Holmes' car is shrouded in pink ribbon pride, he still has more plans for customizing for his coupe. He plans on getting a paint job with either a pink ribbon or sayings emblazoned on the car. He also wants to get custom seats in black and pink leather with ribbons on the headrest and pink stitching.

Holmes' goal is to eventually get his car into car shows, so he can continue to inform people of the importance of breast cancer awareness.

"(I want) to try to go to as many events as I can and see if I can get more done and to bring my car to car shows to bring awareness there, and hopefully bring Susan G. Komen with me as well to get donations at the car shows," he said.

His mother says she is proud of her son and how he supported her not only during her days of surgery and at-home care, but how he still continues to support her with his vehicle.

"I can't even explain it," she said. "It was really hard for him because he was alone when he found out (about my diagnosis). And for what he has done and for what he's doing, I am so greatly proud."

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